Geneva | The UN human rights chief called on Monday for a quick end to the “repression of independent voices” in Russia and expressed concerns about the “persecution" of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison last month.
Volker Turk, in a wide-ranging speech, also lamented dozens of conflicts around the world, widespread violations of human rights law that have impacted millions, and displacements caused by war, which could escalate in places like the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and Sudan.
“Rarely has humanity faced so many rapidly spiralling crises," he told the Human Rights Council.
Alluding to some countries among the dozens holding national elections this year, Turk denounced “increasing restrictions" on rights defenders, journalists and “perceived critics” in India.
He urged US authorities to ensure that voting is universal, alluding to discriminatory policies that restricted the right to vote for people of African descent.
In the run-up to Russia's presidential elections from March 15-17, Turk said Russian authorities “have further intensified their repression of dissenting voices” and noted how some candidates “have been prevented from running due to alleged administrative irregularities”.
He said Navalny's death in a Russian prison last month “adds to my serious concerns about his persecution” and noted how thousands of politicians, journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers and others have faced criminal or administrative charges for having “simply spoken their minds on social media”.
Turk called for a swift and comprehensive review of all cases where people in Russia were detained for exercising fundamental freedoms, and “an immediate end to the repression of independent voices and the legal professionals who represent them”.
"The future of the country depends on an open space,” he said. March's vote in Russia is all but guaranteed to see President Vladimir Putin, 71, cement his place in power until at least 2030.
Turk spoke out against the perception of “racially motivated” police activity in some Western countries and called on China to revise a criminal procedure law and the “vague offense of picking quarrels and making trouble” in one of its articles.
"I urge the release of human rights defenders, lawyers and others detained under such legislation,” he said.